Neighborhood

Apr 20 2011 Filed in: Jims Poems
Neighborhood
 
I don’t know my neighbors.
I don’t know the man next door,
Who mows his lawn every Saturday.
I don’t know the lady up the street,
Who walks two greyhound dogs.
I don’t know the widow,
Who rarely steps outside,
Or the kids who set up
The lemonade stand every week.
I don’t know the politics
Of the guy with the flag on his lawn,
Or the college allegiance
Of the family with signs
That say “Go Buckeyes!”
I don’t know if the family
That dresses well and drives
Off every Sunday
Are churchgoers.
I don’t know the woman
Who walks with a limp
To the bus stop every morning,
Or the guy who strolls by
Every day with a brown paper bag.
I don’t know the couple
Who leave their Christmas tree
Up until April,
Or the woman who gets
UPS parcels three times a week.
I have all these neighbors.
But I don’t know them.